This Is a Reminder That God Goes Before You: (in)courage

 The phone screen lit up. I got a notification.

My flight for tomorrow was rescheduled because of the snowstorm. The message that followed contained the new flight itinerary. After looking at the flight details, my heart began pounding. The travel disruption could lead to a missed medical appointment, and I waited for this appointment for a long time.

For the past few years, I have been struggling with severe spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that causes pressure on the spinal cord. My life has changed drastically. My back starts to hurt after my body stays in the same position for a long time. I cannot do most of the activities I once enjoyed, including hiking, walking, and working out.

I tried to print out my boarding pass several times at the airport the following day. After a few failed attempts, I asked for help at the check-in counter.

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How Christians Should React to Meghan Markle After New Revelations.

Since the time of the New Testament,Christians have been working out the relationship between unchanging Gospel and current culture. Too often we have been caught in culture to the point of losing the sight of the Gospel. As Christians we should consider carefully our response to the latest information about Meghan Markle. The situation with Meghan provides an opportunity to speak of standards of Christ vs. the world. 

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." Ephesians 5:11

THANK YOU RAVI...

On May 19th 2020 one of the most famous apologists -- Ravi Zaccharias -- passed away. He left behind a huge legacy. Ravi went to be with the Lord. He traveled all over the world. He went to places where many people couldn't go. In addition, he also written many books about faith. Some of his books became bestsellers.

What If...

In a past few months, I have gone through some tough time. I have neglected my writing, especially my blog. Today was rough. I decided to look up for something encouraging on social media.

Sin Set

Today is the age of technology. We have too much information. The Internet feeds us the majority of the information. Through the Internet, we come across many articles, including blog posts. We can find many different kinds of blogs. Among those blog-writers are those who classify their blogs according to their faith and beliefs.

Gossip Gnaw

We were driving for about an hour and decided to stop for lunch. The place was crowded. Ourgroupcouldn'tseat together. We split. I sat down with my friend's daughter. My friend joined her husband and their youngest daughter.

Gracious God (Dropping Out)

I tried my hardest not to give up. I didn’t want to drop out of school in the middle of the program. Last semester went so well. That winter semester started well. I was on top of the world.

It all started going downhill in February. At first, I became overwhelmed with school work. I remember getting an assignment back. The grade was 3/10-30%. After that, I was failing most of my classes. I became emotionally overwhelmed and started skipping classes.

Through Time and Space

It doesn't matter how hard you try to impress other people. You can spent much resources: money, time, attention, and talents. They will not be impressed. In my case, there are few people whom I have tried to impress, but to no avail. I mean they will talk to me when they have to do this. They even might give me small favors. However, upon closer look, I realize that we may know one another's names, birthdays, personal likes and dislikes, but at the same we will not be close, at least at this point.

Judith, Martyred Missionary of Russia 's (Book Review and Author's Biography)

Over a year ago on of my most dearest sisters in faith, Kinuko, introduced me to the book—Judith, Martyred Missionary of Russia A True Story by Nikita Ignatievich Saloff-Astakhoff. The book describes the story of  a Jewish girl who became a Christian. Her faith had a very high cost: family, fiance, cultural identity, and ultimately her own life. The Russian name of the book is Невеста Христа (Юдифь)—Bride of Christ (Judith). You can get free version in Russian by clicking on the title.
The book consists of six different chapters: happy days of childhood, refugees, seek and you shall find, persecuted for Christ's sake, dedicated to the Lord, the youthful martyr. Each chapter has it's own style.

Joy Indestractible

People like to make pans. Many plan their lives, including their career path.  We don’t know the future, our God does.Quite often our lives turn out not the way we expect. Quite often we experience changes that can cause much distress. Some changes are good: many aren't.  

Today I live far away from my family, on the other side of the world.It hasn’t been easy. But we know that this arrangement is the best. 

Tragedies, Negativity, and Losing compassion

Someone tells us a life story. We love stories, especially from people whom we don't encounter regularly.
I love to hear stories from a lady, about her escape from Eastern Germany. Honestly, I can listen her talking for hours. She is a great testimony. Her stories, however, contain a lot of pain and trials. At some points her life was in danger.
How about books and movies? We love dangerous plots, where hurt involved. Most people will say that the plot is boring when no tragedies happen. We remember turning plot points better than the rest of the plot.
How about tragedies? We focus on tragedies a lot. We pay a lot of attention to the details. We remember bad things more than we remember good things. We may not remember how much good the person had done, or not remember the details of all the good deeds, but, one mishap, and we tend to remember it for the rest of our lives. We forgive, but not forget.
It seems like we never dwell much on good. Small things have power to spoil our days.
We love to hear about pain and trials as long as we are not part of it. As long as those stories are on pages or on movie screens, we love reading them. We cringe when those stories become part of our lives.

In Season for the Reason

I grew up surrounded by four seasons: spring, summer, autumn/fall, and winter. Each season has it's own characteristics by which we can recognize either of those. I apologize to my readers who live in places where there are no four seasons—equatorial and polar regions. Some places have also strange weather patterns.
We expect a season to come in due time.  Each season associates with certain things: different weather, blossom, sawing and planting, animal behavior, harvest, and holidays. If something happens during the season that is not supposed to take place, we consider it unnatural. 
The Bible says in Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease": in Proverbs 26:1 it says, "Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool." 
The Scriptures also mention another season—spiritual. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers, Psalm 1:3. There are times/seasons when we should yield the fruit. 
I have been thinking how the Lord appointed four seasons. Each of those seasons is marked by special features.

Winter 

Winter is the coldest season of the year.People wear the warmest clothes. Snow covers many places. Blizzards and flurries occur. In many places people doing various activities: skiing, skating, sledding, snowboarding, making a snowman, having snowball fights, and whatever else you can do with snow.
Most of the time you need to dress warm for the winter. We cover everything except faces. 
More people fall during the season because of icy surfaces. Sometimes thin layer of snow covers the ice. People walk over the surface and slip, You can end up at a hospital.
During blizzards you have to be especially careful: drive slow, don't go outside unless absolutely needed, stay away from power lines, and be prepared for power outage. 
There are no agricultural work in fields, no animals in the meadows.
In older days people relied on food that they managed to store from the harvest. People would prepare for winter by storing food. Winter is the season of waiting.   
In many cultures winter is associated with death. You look around—nothing seems to grow many animals are hiding in their dens. Lakes look devoid of fish. Most of the trees and shrubs don't have leaves. 
However, there is life during winter. The ice is only at the top part of the water. Deep water is warm enough for fish to swim. Trees slow down their metabolism in order to conserve the energy. The animals are hibernating in their dens. Seeds are deep in the ground and some are germinating. 
During spiritual winter it looks like nothing is going on. We need more comfort during winter. Any activity requires us to gear up more. We want for it to be over as soon as possible despite the opportunities we have that are unique to the season.    
Even though we don't see it, the work is ting place to prepare for the spring. 

           

Spring

Here comes the season  which many people love. The weather warms up. The snow melts. You see firs flowers and first green leaves. Spring gives many people hope for something new. Farmers getting ready to go out in fields. The soil is ready for agriculture.

Spring is the time for new life. Animals giving birth their young. 

This season is the start for renewal in nature and for sowing the seeds. There would be no harvest without sowing. 
Spring starts with mud and bare ground, after the snow melts. Suddenly muddy puddles surround us. We see bare trees and dead grass. However, it will all change in a few weeks. 

Spring is a very busy season. It's also a season of cleaning. Most people are getting rid off their old things. The air is more fresh. Newness of life is the spring.   
First bloom comes in spring: trees, gentle, tender flowers, and shrubs. Birds are singing their song and chirping. 

Most people love spring because it brings hope and new start. Great break from winter. It also makes you looking forward to the summer.
When spring comes, at first it doesn't look pretty: puddles, wilted grass, bare ground, and mud. But we know that new plants will come
Most people love spring for its freshness and newness. We anticipate summer while enjoying the spring. 
Spiritual spring is the time for renewal and fresh start. We often start new projects. We're actively sawing the seeds. We feel refreshed and well-rested. It is a lot of work. If we miss sawing, we have to wait for the next season. People don't expect harvest/results during sawing. Sometimes we expect harvest during spring. Quite often the season is to short or too long. Spring is the season for intensive work that brings results in the future. 

Summer

In many cases when we hear the word summer we think of heat. Sometimes the heat becomes so intense that we sweat. Summer is the time for hard work in the fields. During summer we enjoy some harvest, including berries. The harvest during summer is tender. But it's not the main harvest. Summer has the largest amount of flowers.
Summer has long warm days and shorter nights. Many crops are under attack from different pests. Plants also need to be watered. Some places experience droughts. Sometimes summer is so hot that people stay away from direct sun. Doctors recommend to drink more water. People apply sunscreen. During summer we protect ourselves from heat and sun. Insects also become aggressive and sting. We welcome summer rain with joy. 
Summer is the season of intense growth. Plants need many nutrients. Gardens, fields, and patches  require much work: watering, weeding, and other responsibilities.  Watering has to be done at the right time, otherwise we can damage the leaves and can kill the roots. 
During spiritual summer we face much heat. We see much growth and development. 
We can do many different things during summer. While many people use this time for taking holidays, there is a lot of work in nature. Bees are busy in meadows and fields.  Birds and animals are raising new generations. Many animals eat a lot of food. The fat serves as energy source for winter. 
I remember how my grandmother and I used to pick up bugs from potato plants during summer. My grandfather used to say that summer is the most dangerous season—so many tings can destroy crops. We worked hard during summer in the garden and small land plot that we had. Sometimes we spent ore than eight hours per day working on the land. 
Spiritual summer involves a lot of work and a lot of attacks. Summer is the season of hard work.  We face many uncomfortable situations that require us to act fast, otherwise we will lose the harvest. We need to work hard. Sometimes we will get hurt and we need time to heal. It looks as if everything going on at once and life gets very intense.

The Ambassadors

Few days ago I finished reading An Unexpected Guest—a novel by Anne Korkeakivi. The book describes the ordeal of Clare Moorehouse, the wife of high-ranking diplomat, who has to organize a dinner for high ranking officials. In addition to the dinner, she has to deal with an encounter from her past, which can have drastic consequences for her family and their country. As if all of the above was not enough, her youngest son gets suspended from school for participating in anti-government activities.  
Clare is going through emotional torments. Things that she had done twenty-five years ago could destroy her life. She also has to deal with her son's situation. The book ends with the moment when Clare decides to confront her past. She also risks her reputation by defending a suspect.
This novel gives an overview of an embassy work. Every embassy has to be efficient. An embassy is a representation of the government abroad. It provides information to the residents of the country and the expats. 
In my life I had several encounters with a few embassies. Their work can provide us with some lessons. 

The Environmental Role

How do we treat things that we don't own: with care and respect. Especially if someone asked us to look after the stuff. When someone asks us to look after a pet or to house sit (to look after the house while the owners are away), we do it with great diligence. Some people wouldn't do it. However, every rule has an exception.

When the Hate Finds the Gate...

Hate towards other people...

Everyone has a capacity to hate others. But hate can slowly poison your life. Many times it enters our hearts discreetly.  We might even miss the moment.
I used to hate a few people. By God's grace, I don't hate them anymore. A heart free of hatred is one of the best gifts.
The hate came into my life when I was young--around the age of nine, it might have been earlier, but it manifested itself when I was nine years old.

Who Am I?

We all asked that question. The answer depends on the context; a nurse, a student, French, seeker, a personal assistant, and many other responses.
Few months ago I ordered a DNA testing kit. Last week the results were in. According to the test I am 99.6% European. That wasn't surprise. Out of my European lineage 85.3% is Eastern European, Interestingly enough, the test didn't differentiate between Eastern European populations. So I don't know how much Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, or any other Eastern European DNA I have. Also, there is 6.4% Northwestern European, 0.8% Finnish, 1.4% French and German, 4.2% broadly Northwestern European, 4.1% Southern European, 2.8% Balkan, 1.3% broadly Southern European, and 3.9% broadly European. As for the rest of My DNA: 0.1% Yakut, <01% Mongolian, <0.1% Native American, <0.1% South Asian, and 0.2% unassigned.
So here is my genetic mix. Thanks to 23andMe company. I am glad that I did this test. I am more diverse than I expected.

Trying to Trust

At this point I am just trying to trust God. There are moments where I can say that I trust the Lord. There are times where I openly say, "Lord, I cannot trust you! Look at my life! Where are you God?". I know that many will quote Bible verses that I am already familiar with. Others say "You are looking for attention. You are being too selfish," and here is my 'favorite one', "Just get over it. Seriously, people are facing much more difficulties than you and they are doing so much better. Sweetie, you are being immature!" The worst part--those comments come from fellow Christians.I am not trying to bring down anyone. One of the hardest thing I learned that some of the attack we face as Christians will come from fellow believers.

Beyond My Own Strength

You know that time when someone tells you are doing way too many things at once. Sometimes there is no choice. We all have different circumstances. In some cases you have to work while pursuing post-secondary education. I have to do that. So many people suggested that I need to take student loans. However that will lead to debt.

Sacred Scars

You look around. What do you see? The world that pushes its perception of beauty on you: unrealistically gorgeous women--often barely dressed-- advertising everything from cars to food. I am not saying that there are no images of men. The world is trying to convince us how we should look; it puts more pressure on women than men. Women have to do their hair. Women have to wear make-up. Women have to do their nails. Women have to wear certain clothes. All over the world we hear the phrase, "it's a tough job to be a woman"--and it sure is.

Just When We Linger Where We Should Avoid

Near the Border

Most of my life I spent on the island--Sakhalin Island. Although I was born on Kamchatka Peninsula. Several years our family lived in Kuril Islands. During my time in the US as an high school exchange student, I lived near Canadian border. Living near border is quite different.

When you live close to an international border you are more likely to meet people from a neighboring country. You encounter checkpoints. Military presence is more prominent, although not always the case. You encounter symbols of the country that's across the border: flag, coat of arms, etc. If you are lingering around border, you most likely to get arrested, in some cases you might get killed.

It's illegal to enter a country without proper identification ( passport, visa). Sneaking to another country may lead to arrest, prison sentence and deportation. It's possible to sneak in through unguarded border section.
What is the most guarded city of the country---its capital.You see capital city is where the
  But once you are inside that country--anything can happen to you. You can get arrested, deported, send to jail, or even executed.
Bible reminds us that we are sojourners. We belong to the Lord. Our home is Heaven, where God is.

And when we are lingering...

I had a great chance to go snowshoeing in February. It was so nice to get away from all hustle and bustle, to pend time with God. The path from woods lead me to a waterfront. I checked the ice. It was solid. Few minutes later I heard cracking noise. And there it was--crack on ice. My heart sank. What's next? I looked, checked the crack. It was only on the surface. It was safe. Nevertheless, I got of the waterfront. The rest of my walk was on land. That night I heard on the news about two people who went under ice on a snowmobile. Both of them died. If I fell under the ice, I would have been dead from hypothermia.
Too often we underestimate or overestimate the situation. Bible tells us to not to worry. At the same time we have to be on guard. It is so easy to fall into traps. Satan is constantly looking for the opportunities to attack us, to destroy our lives,our testimonies,and our bodies. We have to put the whole armor of God. If we don't have it on, we'll be under attack(s) for sure.

Where we are safe

 There is only one safe place for us--God's presence. While we on earth we are not safe anywhere, because we live in a war zone. Some live in places where war-- actual war--is taking place. However, every Christian is in the midst of war--spiritual war. Our bodies are temporary. Souls are forever.
To often we live on earth as if it were our permanent home. It's not--we are passing by.  This life is a journey. Heaven is the only place where we will be free of sorrows and burdens and safe. We never know what next moment brings.